Cotton-gin feeder and cleaner.



GI'TON.` GIN FEEDER AND CLEANER.

` (Appiicmon mea nu. 2s, 1961.) v l (No Nudel.) i '2 Shank-Shrif.

. v V I E y fmey UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. SEIFERT, OF VVAOO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO ALBERT P. MATTHEWS AND JOSEPH EIKEL, OF WACO, TEXAS.

COTTON-GIN FEEDER AND CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No'. 715,699, dated December 9, 1902.

Application led January 28, 1901. Serial No. 45,068. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SEIFERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waco, in the county of McLennan, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Cotton-Gin Feeders and Oleaners, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a cotton-cleaner and gin-feeder, and particularly to a stru cture in which the cotton is passed over the screening-surface by means of a picker-roller.

The invention has for its object a material improvement in the feed roller or device whereby a thin even bat of cotton is fed to and acted upon by the picker-roller.

A further important improvement consists in the driving rnechanism,wherebythe pickerroller is rotated at a much higher speed than the feed-roller and all danger of damage obviated by reason of the frictional connection between the parts. l

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the ,novel features thereof will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the invention; Fig. 2, a vertical crosssection thereof; Fig. an end elevation; and Fig. 4 a detail perspective of the bat-former.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The letter A designates a suitable casing, into the upper portion of which seed-cotton may be fed by any desired method, and in the lower portion thereof a picker-roller B is suitably journaled. This rolleris provided upon its periphery with any ordinary form of pickerteeth, as is also the feed-roller C, which is located at one side of and above the pickerroller D. YAt a proper point at one side of the feed-roller O a bat-former D is rigidly supported from the casing in any desired manner-for instance, by means of flanges D'- and is provided with a curved face or nose D2, by means of which an even thin bat of cotton is fed to the picker-roller. The teeth upon this roller carry the bat of cotton into contact with the screen B', which extends circumferentially of the picker-roller, and at the lower portion of this screen enlarged openings are provided, by means of the slats B2, to permit the escape of larger substances, suchy as sticks or stones, from the cotton. The dirt and substances which may pass from the screen are discharged by gravity into the chute A', which is provided with an inclined bottom A2, extending in opposite directions from the central point and communicating with dirt-conveying pipes As or other suitable receptacle. At the opposite side of the pickerroller a cotton-discharge chute A4 is provided, which may, if desired, deliver the cleaned cotton directly into a gin. This chute A4 is provided with a screened opening A5, through which the character and condition of the cotton delivered to the gin may be inspected.

The case A may be provided with any desired apertures or doors-for instance, a door A(i to permit inspection of the feed-roller or a door A7 opposite the screen B, which is made removable, so that the screen may be inspected or removed through the door A7. f

In a cotton-cleaner of this character the picker-roller B is driven at about two hundred revolutions a minute, while the feedroller makes only about one revolution a minute, and these conditions necessitate the use of a driving mechanism to effect the necessary reduction of speed and to prevent injury to any ot the parts should the rollers become clogged. With this end in view the shaft E of the picker-roller B is provided with a driving-pulley E and a beveled frictionwheel E2, cooperating with a driven frictionwheel E3 upon one end of a counter-shaft E, which is suitably journaled in the end of a pivoted lever H, provided with a weight H' and an operating-handle H2. The weight normally holds the friction-wheel in contact, and when it is desired to hold the same separated the handle of the lever may be engaged by a retaining-spring H3, secured to the case to hold the lever in a raised position. The opposite end of the counter-shaft is extended, as at E5, and has slidably mounted thereon a friction driving-wheel E6, adapted to travel upon the face of the driven disk E7, from which thel shaft E8 extends, and is provided zoo with a worm-gear E9, adapted to mesh with a pinion E10, loosely mounted upon the shaft of the feed-roller C and normally held in contact With a clutch carried by a hand-wheel I2, secured to said shaft, said contact being effected by a spring I3, extending between the case and the hub of the pinion. The shaft Es is suitably supported in any desired form of boxing, such as E11, to permit of a reciprocatory motion thereof, While the friction-disk is normally held in contact with the Wheel E6 by means of a spring E12, bearing at opposite ends against the disk and a fixed support.

The shaft E8 may be shifted longitudinally to withdraw the disk E7 from the wheel E by any desired means-for instance, a plate J, secured to the end of the shaft, and a camdisk J', pivoted to the case beneath the plate J and provided 'with a handle J2 to operate the same. This cam bears against the inner face of the plate J and forces the same away from the casing to separate the disk and Wheel to stop the rotation of the feed-roller. The shaft is restored to its initial position by the spring E12, assisted by the spring J3.

For the purpose of disconnecting the feedroller from its driving mechanism a suitable -clutch I is provided upon the pinion E10 and adapted to be operated by a similar clutch I upon a hand-Wheel I2, secured to the shaft C. Such a disconnection permits the feed-roller to be operated by the hand-Wheel, which is very desirable when a small amount of cotton is to be fed through the machine. The feed-roller has its journal C' mounted at each end in boxes C2, which are held in their normal position by means of springs C3, as shown in Fig. 2, which permits a yielding of the roller and prevents damage to the teeth thereon or the roller in case a stone or other obstruction becomes lodged between the roller and the nose of the bat-former. This movement of the shaft of the feed-roller through the medium of its pinion and worm causes a disconnection of the driving mechanism for the feed-roller.

For the purpose of regulating the relative speed at which the picker-roller and feedroller shall revolve I have provided a shifting lever G, suitably pivoted at G' to the case and adapted to engage a collar G2 from the friction-wheel E6 in order to shift the same to- Ward and from the center of the disk.

The feed-roller C and the picker-roller B are each preferably formed of Wood or similar material and inclosed by a sheet-metal covering, such as C4 and B1, respectively, which protect the body or core of the rollers and render the same durable and fireproof. They also prevent the swelling or warping of the wood, often caused by moisture carried in the Wet or damp cotton, so that the Work of the rollers is uniform underall conditions. When it is desired to rotate the feed-roller by hand, the hand-wheel I2, secured to the shaft C', will be turned in the direction of rotation and i through the clutch-teeth forces the pinion away therefrom and out of mesh with the worm E9, thus placing the restoring-spring under tension.

In the operation of the machine the cotton falls upon the roller C and is fed thereby against the nose of the bat-former audinto contact with the picking-roller B. This action produces a bat of a light thin character, whereby a perfectly even feed is secured and the cotton presented in the best condition to the screening-surface. In the prior art it has been old to use two feeding-rollers; but objection has been found to these, as the cotton is therebj7 fed in compact bunches, which are not readily separated by the picking-roller, and the cleaning of the cotton is not thoroughly accomplished. The present structure utilizes only two rollers in combination with a bat-former, and thereby secures the desired even feed of cotton. The cotton is carried by the picking-roller over the screen B and slats B2 and then discharged through the chute B1, and the dirt and material removed from the cotton are discharged through the chute A. Frein the foregoing description the operation of the driving mechanism will be apparent, and it will be seen that thereby the feed-roller may be readily disconnected from the power mechanism and driven by hand and is so mounted as to prevent injury to the roller or teeth thereon if a hard substance be accidentally introduced into the machine. The frictional gearing also facilitates this disconnection and permits the relative adjustment of the speed of the feeding and picking rollers to accomplish the various characters of Work for which they may be used. This speed of rotation will be varied, dependent upon the condition of the cotton to be screened. It will also be seen that the dirt-chute herein shown permits the discharge of all substances removed from the cotton by gravity and without the employmentof any supplemental conveying agency.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration without departing from the spirit of the appended claims, and such changes as are Within the ordinary mechanical skill are contemplated Within the scope of the invention.

l-Iaving described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination with a casing, of a picker-roller and screening-surface located therein, a stationary bat-former above said roller in the path of feed thereto, a feed-roller adapted to cooperate with said bat-former, a cotton-chute and a dirt-chute inclined in opposite directions from the picker-roller, a yielding bearing for said feed-roller, means for driving said picker-roller, means for driving said feedroller at a less speed than the picker-roller,

means for varying the relative speed of the ICO IIO

picker and feed rollers, and means for disconnecting the feed-roller from its driving mechanism; substantially as specified.

2. In a cotton cleaner and feeder lthe combination with a casing, of a toothed pickerroller, a screening-surface extending circumferentially at one side thereof, a stationary bat-former having a curved nose above said picker-roller, a toothed feed-roller opposite the nose of said former, means for driving said picker-roller, a driving-shaft for said feed-roller, intermediate connections for varying the relative speed of rotation of said rollers, a yielding support for the shaft of said feed-roller, and means for disconnecting the driving-gear of said feed-roller from the driving mechanism; substantially as specified.

3. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination Witha casing, of rotatable feed and picker rollers disposed in feeding yrelation to each other, a screen circumferential to one side of the picker-roller, a bat-former intermediate of said rollers comprising a plate provided with securing flanges and a U- shaped nose projecting inward and downward between the rollers into the path of feed; substantially as specified.

4t. In acotton cleaner and feeder, the combination with a casing, of rotatable feed and picker rollers disposed in feeding relation to each other, a screen at one side of the pickerroller, driving means for said picker-roller, a counter-shaft geared to the shaft of said picker-roller and provided with a frictionroller, a driving-shaft disposed at an angle to said friction-roller and provided with a friction-disk and a Worm-gear, and a laterallymovable pinion upon said feed-roller meshing with said worm; substantially as specified.

5. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination with a casing, of rotatable feed and picker rollers, a screen at one side of the picker-roller, driving means for said pickerroller, a counter-'shaft geared to the shaft of said picker-roller and provided with a friction-roller, a driving-shaft ldisposed at an angle to said friction-roller and provided with a friction-disk and a Worm-gear, a pinion upon said feed-roller meshing with said Worm, a lever for shifting said friction-roller, a spring for holding said disk in contact with the friction-roller, a clutch connecting said pinion to the shaft of the feed-roller, and a yielding bearing for the shaft of said feed-roller; substantially as specified.

6. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination with a casing, of a feed-roller therein having an extended shaft, a hand-Wheel secured to said shaft for disconnecting it from a driving device and provided With a clutch member, a driving-pinion loosely mounted to reciprocate on said shaft and provided with a cooperating clutch member adapted to receive lateral motion by contact with its associate member, a spring to hold said pinion in clutching contact, and driving means for said pinion; substantially as specified.

7. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination with a casing, of a picker-roller there,- in provided with a driving-wheel, a countershaft provided with a driving-wheel to engage the Wheel on the shaft of said pickerroller, a feed-roller in said casing provided with a driving-gear, means for operatively connecting said counter-shaft to drive said feed-roller, and means for shifting said gear upon its shaft to disconnect it from its driving means; substantially as specified.

8. In a cotton cleanerand feeder, the combination with a casing, ofa picker-roller therein, a feed-roller cooperating therewith, a driving-shaft operatively connected with the shaft of said picker-roller, a driving-gear upon the shaft of said feed-roller cooperating with av gear upon lsaid driving-shaft, a plate at one end of said shaft, a cam-disk pivoted to a fixed member and adapted to operate against a face of said plate to reciprocate said shaft, and a frictional connection between said shaft and the driving connections therefor from the shaft of the picker-roller; substantially as specified.

9. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination With a casing, of a picker-roller having a friction-wheel upon its shaft, a countershaft journaled in one end of a pivoted lever and provided with a coperating frictionwheel, a feed-roller, a pinion loosely mounted upon a shaft thereof and provided with a toothed clutch member, a hand-Wheel secured to said feed-roller shaft and provided with a coperating clutch member, a spring for holding said pinion in contact with said wheel, a worm-gear having a frictional connection with said counter-shaft, a plate upon the shaft of said Worm-gear, and a cam de- IOO vice operating against said plate to shift said Worm-gear and shaft longitudinally; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. SEIFERT. Vitnesses:

H. W. NAGEL, B. T. SNEED.

IIO 

